Method of knitting seamless stockings and the like in stringwork



March 26, 1940. H. MCADAMS 2,195,183

METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOCKINGS AND THE LIKE IN STRINGWORKOriginal Filed June 20, 1936 13 Sheets-$heet l INVENTOR.

Harry NI -Adams BY I ATTORNEYS.

March 26, 1940. MCADAMS 2,195,183

METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOCKINGS AND THE LIKE IN STRINGWORKOriginal Filed June 20, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 g. E. 3/6 3/7 3 T 7 FaceINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS? March 26, 1940. I C D 2,195,183

METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOQKINGS AND THE LIKE IN STRINGWORKOriginal Filed June 20, 1936 l3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Ham-'5 M Adam-n5 ATTORNEYS.

March 26, 1940. H. MCADAMS METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOCKINGS AND THELIKE IN STRINGWORK Original Filed June 20, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 oe oooooao INVENTOR. Har PH M -Adams ATTORNEYS.

March 26, 1940. H, MCA'DAM 2,195,183

METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOCKINGS AND THE LIKE IN STRINGWORKOriginal Filed June 20, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORI ATTORN EYS.

March 26, 1940. H. M ADAMS METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOCKINGS AND THELIKE TN STRINGWORK Original Filed June 20, 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 R 5 &

.JEJ.

I.NVENTOR. Harp-5 M Adams ATTORNEYS.

March 26, 1940. MCADAMS 2,195,183 METHOD OF KNI'I TING'SEAMLESSSTOCKINGS AND THE LIKE IN STRINGWORK Original Filed June 20, 1936 13Sheets-Sheet 9 Jg.ll.

ATTO R N EYS March 26, 1940. HMC AM 2,195,183

METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOCKINGS AND THE LIKE IN STRINGWORKOriginal Filed June 20, 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 1O INVENTOR.

Hard-H M AdETT'LE ATTO R N EYS.

March 26, 1940. H. M ADAMS METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOCKINGS AND THELIKE IN STRINGWORK Original Filed June 20, 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 11INVENTOR.

ATTORN EYS.

March 26, 1940. H, MCADAM 2,195,183

METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOCKINGS AND THE LIKE IN swnmewonx-Original Filed June 20, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 R k I INVENTOR.

Ham-1| M AdHTFLE ATTORNEYS.

March 26, 1940. H. M ADAMS 2,195,183

a METHOD OF KNITTING SEAMLESS STOCKINGS AND THE LIKE IN STRINGWORKOriginal Filed June 20, 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet l5 739 A32 m la.

/39 Z38. Age

INVENTOR.

I09. Hal PH M AdETTLE ATTORN EYS.

Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF KNITTINGSEAIVILESS STOCK- INGS AND THE LIKE IN STRINGWORK Harry McAdams,Reading, Pa., assignor to The Nolde and Horst Company, Reading, Pa., a

corporation 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in methods of knitting stockingsin stringwork.

The present application is a division of my U. S. application Serial No.86,420, filed June 20, 1936.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved knitting machine. Figure 2is a side elevation of the improved knitting machine.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved knitting machine with a portionof the overhead structure above the dial of the knitting machine 1removed to better illustrate the means for controlling various cams ofthe knitting machine.

Figure 4 is ,a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through thecylinder and dial. construction of the knitting machine; showing the 5drive of the latter and the improved selective dial needle controlarrangement.

' Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the drive andoperating mechanism-of the machine below the table top or bed of themachine; more particularly showing the means for driving the patternchain and the pattern drum advancing pawls.

3 Figure 7 is a Han view of the needle lay-out in the bed of the dial ofthe machine, showing the dial needles projected at one position for ribknitting, and projected at another position for transfer of stitchestherefrom to cylinder needles. 1 Y

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the cam and cam groove arrangement inthe dial cap.

Figure 9 is a developed view showing the cylinder needle, jack, .anddial needle control finger lay-out of the knitting machine, as the partswill appear during the knitting of plain knitted work upon the machine.

Figure 10 is a developed view showing the cylinder needle, jack, anddial needle control finger lay-out of the knitting machine, as the partsi will appear during the last part of the knitting of one and one riband the first part of the transfer action of transferring stitch loopsfrom 5 dial needles to those alternate cylinder needles which areinactive during the knitting of rib work.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through the maindrive shaft of the knitting machine and more particularly showing 5 thegearing arrangement for the different speeds of the machine and foroscillating or reciprocating drive of the cylinder.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic fragmentary representation of the patterncontrol chain of the 10 machine.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal cross sectionalview taken through the mainpattern drum; its shaft and the main pattern chain sprocket wheel.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view showing a 15 brake drum arrangement onthe main pattern drum mounting shaft.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of my improved sinker cam cap for themachine, showing associated therewith an improved splice yarn controlmember which is used during rotary knitting to guide the splice yarn outof the way of the dial and dial needles.

Figure 16 is a bottom plan view of the sinker cam cap and moreparticularly showing improved means for rendering the sinker camsoperative or inoperative.

Figure 17 is a developed view of the main pat-. tern control drum andratchet wheel drive arrangement.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view of several stockings which may beknitted in stringwork upon the machine; the view showing one completestocking and appended portions of other stockings at each end thereof,and also showing thenature of the various parts of the stocking and thejoining means between the stockings.

Figure 19 is a series of views showing the bottom of the improved dialneedle used with my machine; this dial needle being of the type setforth in my copending application Serial No. 68,526, filed March 12.1936.

Figures 20, 21 and 22 are perspective views showing various steps in thecycle of transferring a stitch loop from a dial needle to a cylinderneedle on the improved machine.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an improved binderand cutter .which may be mounted upon the dial of the knitting machine.

.In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred and modified embodiments of the improved knitting machine andthe details thereof, the letter A may generally designate the improvedknitting machine.

It includes a frame B having a rotary cylinder 0 and a dial D. Drivemeans E is provided for driving the cylinder C and bed of the dial D,and for operating a pattern control drum arrangement F and a patternchain G. A set H of dial needles is provided and also a set K ofcylinder needles. Selective means L is provided for operating the dialneedles for various purposes. and a take-up mechanism M is provided fortaking up the string of tubular fabric N as it is knitted.

The frame B of the machine includes a cab inet portion within which thedrive mechanism of the machine is mounted. The frame is supported uponsuitable legs 26 or in other manner and it has a top table 21 whichsupports the cylinder for vertical movement.

The cylinder C is longitudinally slotted on the outer surface thereoffor reciprocably receiving needles and jacks therein; the needles beingmounted in the upper part of the cylinder and the jacks in the slotsbelow the needles in the usual manner. An anti-friction bearingconstruction 38, shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, has a race directlysupporting the. lower end of the cylinder C; this anti-friction bearing30 being supported in a ring-shaped cup 3 I. The cup 31 is suitablybolted or riveted as shown at 33 in Figure 2 of the drawings to theupper end of a vertically movable supporting bar 35. The bar rod 35 isslidably supported in suitable brackets 36 provided upon the frame ofthe machine. A spring 31, shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, normallyholds the bar 35 downwardly, and at its lower end it may rest upon anadjusting screw 38 as shown in Figure 2. This cylinder supporting bar 35may be elevated by means of a lever .38 which is pivoted at 39 on aframe bracket of the machine, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Thelever 38 is operated off of the section F of the pattern controlarrangement F, and at its other end the lever 38 may engage a pin 40which is integral with the bar 35. A lug on the drum F will depress thelever 38 at its drum end and thus elevate the cylinder in a manner whichis apparent from the draws.

The cylinder C at its lower endis upwardly slotted, as shown at 4| inFigure 2 of the drawings to receive therein sectors 42 of the ring gear43 in which the cylinder C- is movably mounted, as shown in Figure 4 ofthe drawings. The gear 43 is socketed in the supporting bed 21 of theframe B, as shown in Figure 4. A cap plate 45 is secured at 46 to thebed 21 for the purpose of maintaining the ring gear 43 rotatably inplace. The gear 43 is of the bevel herring-bone type.

The top construction of the cylinder is rather conventional. It includesa top ring 58, for slidably supporting the sinkers 5|. The sinkercontrol arrangement further includes the sinker or web holding bed 52which is keyed at 53 to the cylinder. The sinker cam ring 54 is mountedon the bed and of course is provided with movement limiting lugs 238thereon, best shown in Figures 15 and 16 of the drawings, located atopposite sides of a stop post 291 (see Figure l), as is usual incircular knitting machines of this general type. The sinkers 5| are ofgeneral construction and need not be further described, since their.nature, function and construction is well understood in the art to whichthis invention relates. Reference in this connection may be made to U.S. patent #1,467,691. The sinker cam ring 54 has an annular channel inthe undersurface thereof, in which the butts of the sinkers ride. Inthis channel the sinker cam ring 54 is provided with a sinkerwithdrawing cam 58 and sinker advancing cams SI and 62. The advancingcams 6| and 62 are pivoted at their proximate ends at 53 and are adaptedto be retracted at different operations throughout the knitting of thestocking. Means is provided to move the advancing cams 6| and 62comprising a circumferentially movable ring socketed in an annularchannel in the top of the cam ring 54, as is shown in Figures 4 and 15of the drawings. This ring 65 is provided with cams 65, slotted toreceive pins 61 of the cams 8| and 62 and having throw portions 65 tomove the cams BI and 62 to a retracted position. Cams BI and 62 areadvanced and retracted as the ring 65 is reciprocably moved in itschannel on the sinkercam ring 54. A spring 64 normally maintains thecams 61 and 62 in sinker advancing position.

Referring now to the pattern control drum 'arrangement F, with referenceto Figures 2, 3, and 13 of the drawings it will be seen that this drumarrangement is compactly located at the rear of the machine in an easilyaccessible and convenient location. It essentially consists of ashaft'15 rotatably supported and connected by brackets 16 to the frameof the machine; one of the brackets 16 being located intermediate theends of the shaft 15 to give it central support. The drum arrangementincludes the drum F and the drum F and on these drums a circumferentialseries of lugs are provided for operating the various levers and partsof the machine. A compact and accessible arrangement of levers includesa shaft 11 which is pivotally supported by the brackets 16 of themachine; said shaft extending parallel with the drum and at a locationbetween the drums and the cylinder, and on a level approximately in aline tangent to the top of the drums. On this shaft 11 are located bellcrank levers which are pivoted for oscillative action thereon; the saidbell crank levers having arm portions which operate at their ends onlugson the drum, the opposite ends of said levers extendingsubstantially vertical and having rod attachments with the differentfeatures of the machine to be operated. With reference to the sinker camcontrol ring 85 immediately above described, one of the levers 19 of theshaft 11 has the upper end of its vertical arm supporting a connectingrod 88; the opposite end of said connecting rod being attached in asuitable opening 82- provided in the ring 85 (see Figures 3 and 15).Rocking of the lever 19 incident to operation of the drum F" will causemovement ofthe ring 65 and throw the cams 6| and 62 into retractedposition (see dotted lines in Figure 16).

The drums F and F" are keyed at 83 to the shaft 15, and the shaft 15 hasalso keyed therewith a ratchet wheel 85. To insure uniformity ofmovement advanced the shaft 15 at one side of the machine beyond thesupport 16 the shaft 15 is provided with a brake drum 86 and tootheddetent wheel 81. A spring actuated pawl 81* is pivoted at 88 on theframe of the ma chine (see Figure 14). A tooth 89 is located in therecesses between the teeth on the wheel 81 to restrain too free advanceof the shaft 81 except as hereinafter noted. A brake band 88 actscontinuously on the drum 86, to prevent loose play in the shaft 15 andthus prevents the forward or backward movement of either of the drums For F" except as advanced by pawl mechanism to be hereinafter described.The shaft I5 is provided with a freely rotatable sprocket wheel 90thereon around which the pat-- tern chain G is trained. .This sprocketwheel 90 has a suitable ratchet wheel 9I keyed or integrally connectedas a part thereof, operating therewith, and located side by side withthe shaft keyed ratchet 85 above described, as shown in Figure 13 of thedrawings. The drum advancing ratchet wheel 85 has thirty-six teetharound the periphery thereof and the ratchet wheel 9| attached to thesprocket wheel 90 is provided with seventy-two teeth. In order toprevent loose advancing or retracting movement of these two sprocketwheels a detent 93 is provided on the machine (see Figure 6) which isbroad enough to operate in the teeth recesses of both of these ratchetwheels 85 and 9| to maintain them in their proper relationship.

The pattern chain G is of course trained over the teeth on the sprocketwheel 90. This chain is relatively long since it is intended to providein it one link for each knitted course throughout the length of thestocking or article being knitted. In order to accommodate the chain aspecial frame is provided consisting of a supporting standard 94, asshown in Figure 6 of the drawings, connected in depending relation fromthe machine frame, and having upper and lower support bars 95 and 96respectively. These support bars each have a series of rotatable wheelsor rollers 91 thereon around which the chain G is trained. The frame ofthe machine may additionally be provided with rollers 98 around whichthe chain G is trained as it comes direct from the sprocket wheel 90prior to the zig-zag training of the chain over the rollers on the upperand lower support bars 95 and 96. As will be noted from Figure 1 of thedrawings this chain is located in an out of the way 'relation at therear of and beneath the frame of the machine, below the drive mechanismcontrol box or compartment in the machine, as shownin Figm Referring tothe dial construction D and the selective means L for operating the dialneedles thereof, a very compact bracket or yoke construction is providedfor supporting the dial mechanism over the cylinder in such manner thatall of the parts of the same are readily accessible and so that the dialmay be moved to an out of the way position with respect to the cylinvThis bracket or supporting yoke construc-' der. tion for the dial isgenerally of inverted u-shape formation. It includes a stationarybracket I00, at the left side of the machine, bolted at I 0| to themachine bed, 21 and extending upward diagonally towards the cylinder toa point about even with the top of the cylinder, where it pivotallysupports at I02 a dial supporting arm I94. This arm includes a portionI05 which really forms an extension of the bracket arm I00 and isinclined diagonally towards the cylinder when the dial is placed overthe cylinder. It further includes the horizontal supporting portion I06which lies horizontally over the cylinder, as shown in Figure 4. Theyoke construction'for supporting the dial further includes the bracketarm I01 mounted on the bed of the machine at the opposite side from thebracket I00, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and whichextendsdiagonally upward inclined towards the cylinder ing relationthereon; anfadjusting screw I08 being provided on the end of the armI04, for abutment with the upper end. of the arm I01, to regulate thespacing of the dial above the cylinder when in knitting position.

The horizontal portion I06 of the dial bracket swinging arm I94 isprovided with a non-rotatable depending shaft I09, shown in Figure 4 ofthe drawings, and which is bolted thereto at IIO; an annular stop flangeI II being provided thereon to abut the under surface of the arm I06 andenable the shaft to be properly bolted into position. A rotatable sleeveH5 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft I09 in position to beaxially aligned with the cylinder C when the swinging arm I04 is in theposition shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. This rotatable sleeve 5 ismaintained detachably on the shaft I09 at the lower end of the latter bymeans of a nut H6 and supporting washer III, and it is on the lower endof this sleeve II5 that the dial bed II8 of the dial construction D iskeyed, as by a detachable pin II 9. The sleeve H5 at its upper end has agear adjusting plate, I20, keyed thereto at I2I, as shown in Figure 4. Agear I22 is rotatably located in a recess or socket provided in thebottom surface of the swinging arm I04; said gear being centrallyapertured to receive the flange III of the sleeve II5 as shown in Figure4. This gear is adjustably keyed or attached to the adjusting plate I20and of course the drive of the machine driving the gear I22 will thusdrive the sleeve H5 and rotate the dial bed II8 therewith in synchronismwith the cylinder 0 as will be subsequently described. The timedadjustment of the gear teeth relative to the drive shaft H5 is angularlysecured by providing a depending lug I23 on the gear I22, as shown inFigure 5 of the drawings, which depends between two extensions I24 andI25 on the adjusting plate I20; adjusting screws I26 being provided Onthe plate extensions I 24 and I25, in order to angularly adjust the gearI22 relative to the rotatable sleeve H5. In order to insure attachmentof the gear to the plate I20 when the proper timing has been obtainedbolts I28 may be tightened. These bolts I28 are screw threaded insockets in the plate I20, as shown in Figure 5, and the gear I22 isprovided with slots to receive the shanks thereof.

The dial construction includes the bed H8 and the stationary dial capI29. This dial cap is in the form of a ring so that the lower ends ofthe dial needle actuating fingers I30 (comprising part of the selectivemeans L for operating the dial needles) may engage the said dial needleseither at the rear ends thereof or on special butt arrangements whichmay be provided on the dial needles in order to move them foraccomplishing various operations. Referring-now to the dial bedconstruction H8, as is shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, the same isprovided with slots I3I which reciprocably receive the needles I32 ofthe set H of ,dial needles. 'The dial needles I32 are of the nature andconstruction set forth in my co-pending appli cation Serial No. 68,526,filed March 12, 1936. They each include, a body portion I35 having 'ashoulder I36 intermediate its ends behind the points where the latchcloses. The needle has the usual hook end latch. Immediately rearwardlyofthe shoulderthe body I35 is laterally recessed upwardly from the loweredge thereof, at I31. Facing thisrecess is a spring arm I38 which at itsfore end is free of direct attachment to the needle and is provided witha. lip I39 ing in the eye.

adapted to fit in the recessed portion I40 in the lower edge of theneedle. The arm I38 is spring bowed as shown in the upper corner inFigure 19 of the drawings and faces the conoaved recess I31 in the bodyof the needle to provide an eye which is vertically disposed when thedial needle is positioned in the dial bed. The head of the cylinderneedle may readily slip into this opening notwithstanding that thecylinder needle is directly opposite the line of travel of the dialneedle. The lip I39 prevents the stitch catch- The arm I38 compressesinto the position shown in the middle view of Figure 19 when the dialneedle is retracted in the groove of the dial bed. Upon projection ofthe needle the stitch catches against the shoulder I36 and is spreadopen by the arm I38 so that the cylinder needle may readily enter it asshown in Figure 21. The dial bed H8 has the grooves I3I widened at thefore ends thereof.

The dial cap I29 is best shown in Figures 4 and 8 of the drawings, andthe dot and dash line application of the cams and cam grooves thereofwith respect to the dial needles is shown in Figure 7. The dial cap hasa central opening I42 to receive the lower ends of the dial actuatingfingers I30. The dial needles are initially projected by the fingers I30both for transferring stitches from dial needles to cylinder needles andat a second location to receive yarns when they are used in connectionwith the cylinder needles for knitting rib work. The dial cap I29 isprovided with the dial needle butt receiving groove I44 which receivesthe dial needles when they are inactively positioned. The dial needlesare projected into stitch transfer position by a cam I45, comprisingpart of the dial cap,;when the butts of the needles I2 are thrown intothe groove I46 surrounding this cam. Normally, the butts of the dialneedles travel inactively in the groove I44. The dial needles areprojected so that their buttswill engage the cam I by the dial needleselector fingers I30. The opening I42 in the cap is widened at I41 toenable the lower ends of the fingers I30 to push the dial needles sotheir butts will engage against the cam I 45, as shown in Figure 9 ofthe drawings. In the dial cap a second cam I50 is used to project thedial needles into yarn receiving relation for knitting rib work. Thecentral opening I42 of the dial is cut away at I5I so as to enable thefingers I 30 to project the butts of the dial needles-into engagementwith the cam I50.

The compact arrangement for mounting the dial needle selector fingersI30 comprises a supporting collar or member I53 keyed at I54 on thesleeve II5 intermediate the ends of the latter.

This support I53 has an annular fulcrum flange I56 thereon for thefingers or members I30. These members I30 are provided with upper andlower portions I30 and I30 above and below the fulcrum pointrespectively which are disposed in an angular relation with respect toeach other. When the fingers are mounted on the fulcrum flange I56 theupper portions I30 will be vertically positioned, and the lower portionsI30 will be relatively convergent towards the axis of the shaft. Thefingers I30 are bowed to provide fulcrum recesses 130 on the inner sidesthereof which fit upon the fulcrum flange I56. In this manner the dialneedle control niembers are arranged in close fitting annular relationand the lower ends thereof are normally positioned in the centralopening of the dial cap. The lower ends are held in abutment with thesleeve II5 by means of compression springs I60 shown in Figure 4 of thedrawings. In order to prevent lateral play of the fingers or members I30suitable filler pieces may be placed betwen them. These filler pieceswill of course be substantially the same shape as the members I30 exceptthat they are not provided with butts or means for operating against thedial needles. The lower dial needle engaging ends of the members I30 maybe shaped in any fashion suitable to the mode of operating against thedial needles. At their upper ends the fingers I30 may be provided withany desired arrangement of butts thereon. In the example shown in thedrawings substantially one half of the members I30 are provided withbutts I30 at an upper level and the remainder of the said dial needlecontrol members I30 have butts I30 at a lower level. The upper levelbutts I30 are arranged, as shown in Figure 9, over substantially onehalf of the short butt cylinder needle section and substantially onehalf of the long butt cylinder needle section.

In the present invention the dial needle selector members I 30 areadapted to project the dial needles merely at the stitch transfer andyarn receiving points. It is quite evident that the projection of thedial needles may be used for other purposes than herein enumerated. Forinstance, they could be selectively projected to take any desiredarrangement of the yarns, such as patterning and wrapping yarns, etc.

Referring to the means E for driving the dial and cylinder, the driveshaft of the drive mechanism includes sections I and I65 and a maindrive shaft. They are not keyed together except through the intermediaryof clutch mechanism to me subsequently described. The section I65 has aherring-bone bevel gear I66 which meshes with the cylinder gear 43 fordrive of the said cylinder. The section I65 also has keyed therewith asmaller bevel herring-bone gear I61 which may be bolted directly to thegear I66. The beveled teeth on this gear I61 face directly opposite thebevel of the teeth on the gear I66 and are adapted. to drive thediagonally disposed shaft I10. The shaft I10 is mounted in a suitablebearing I1I on the bed frame of the machine, and in a bearing I12 at theupper end of the dial supporting yoke arm or bracket I01. The upper endof the arm I10 is provided with a herringbone bevel gear I12, whichmeshes with the teeth of the gear I22, and drives the latter. The lowerend of the shaft I10 within the compartment of the cabinet of themachine below the bed is provided with a herring-bone gear I14 meshingwith the teeth of the gear I61. These gears and parts are compactlyassociated and it is to be particularly noted that the arrangementeliminates the necessity of a horizontal counter shaft. The eliminationof all gearing except direct connection between the drive shaft of themachine and the dial does away with unnecesasry back slap and loose playin the gears, so that it is possible to accurately regulate the relationof the dial needles to cylinder needles, and to effect the variousdelicate operating positions of the parts which are vitally necessaryduring the knitting of continuous strings of stockings of the characterset forth in this application.

A clutch hub I69 is splined at I10 upon shaft section I65, and adaptedfor selective clutching with either a spur gear I1I which is keyeddirectly to the shaft section I65 at H2, or with the gear I15. A pulleyI16 idles on the shaft section I65", and said shaft I65 may also have 7a hand crank thereon best shown at I11, and used in the usual manner.The shaft section I65 has a second pulley I11 directly keyed to theshaft I 65'. The third pulley I18 is rotatably mounted on the shaftsection I65 by a sleeve section I19 integral therewith which bears in awall of the frame B of the machine, as shown in Figure 11. This sleeveI19 at the inside of the drive gear cabinet of the frame has a spur gearI88 keyed directly therewith. A countershaft I8I is rotatably mounted onthe wall of the frame B and it has thereon a pair of freely rotatablegears I82 and I83; the latter meshing with the teeth of the spur gearI1I. The gears I1I I88, I82 and I83 comprise a compound'high speed meansfor driving the shaft section I65 at a high speed- The direct drive ofcourse rotates the cylinder at a lower speed. Meshing with and directlyback of the gear I88'is a larger gear I85 (see Figure 6) which has acrank pitman I86-eccentrically pivoted thereto. A pivoting gear leverI81 is mounted intermediate its ends upon a shaft I88 below the maindrive shaft assembly. It has a segment shaped end I89 provided with gearteeth I98 which mesh with the teeth of the gear I15. The latter isloosely mounted upon the shaft I65. The lever I81 is reciprocated whenthe gear I85 is rotated, and thus oscillatively moves the gear I15. Whenthe clutch hub I69 is in engagement with the gear I15 it canreadily beseen that the cylinder will be reciprocated for knitting the heel andtoe pockets.

Referring to the means for advancing the drum assemblage F, and torotate the sprocket 98 in order to advance the main pattern chain G, abell crank lever I is pivoted at I96 and operates off of rollerlugs onthe gear I85; These lugs hit the lever I95 at one end to throw pawls 288and MI which are on the other end thereof into respective advancingengagement with the teeth of ratchet wheels 9| and 85. Both of thesepawls 288 and 28I are mounted on the lever I95 and are spring urged intoengagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheels. There are eight lugs orrollers on the gear I85 which operate the lever I95. Four of them,designated at 283, are radially set back farther than the other four284, so that the throw of the bell crank lever is greater when therollers 284 are hitting the lever than when the rollers 283 engage it.The purpose of this will be subsequently described.

In the gear cabinet of the machine the lever 285 is pivoted at 286intermediate its ends. At one end it has a pawl 281 operating againstthe teeth of the ratchet wheel 85. At its other end it has a roller 2I8operating against a cam foot 2 II which forms part of the oscillatinglever I81, at the opposite side of the shaft I88 with respect to thesegment I89. A spring 2I3 normally holds the roller 2I8 against the camsurface of the foot 2I I. Of course oscillation of the arm I81 willadvance the awl 281.

The chain G has two longitudinal series of lugs along it. arranged alongthe lines 2I5 and 2I6 designated in Figure 12 of the drawings. Levers2I1 and 2I8 respectively pivoted at 2I9 and 228 on the shaft 11 areadapted for cooperation with the, lugs along the lines 2l5 and 2I6respectively of the chain G. As shown in Figure 6 of the drawings theselevers 2I1 and 2I8 are normally held in engagement intermediate theirends with the chain, in the line of the lugs, by means of springs 222.The lever 2I1 is provided with an arm 223 thereon which normally holdsthe pawl 28I out of action. A lug on the chain G raises the lever 2I1which will release the pawl 28I for action upon the ratchet wheel 85.The lever 2I8 is provided with an arm 224 which normally holds the pawl281 out of action, but when a lug on the chain G lifts the lever 2I8 itwill move the arm 224 out of action and permit the pawl 281 to advancethe ratchet wheel 85.

The set K of cylinder needles includes long butt needles 238 and shortbutt needles 23I. Below alternate long butt needles 238 there areprovided jacks 232 having long butts at a lower level, and belowalternate short butt needles there are provided jacks 233 having shortbutts at a lower level. Long butt jacks 234 have long butts at an upperlevel. They are positioned in an alternating relation with the cylinderneedles, and similarly jacks 235 having short butts at the upper level(complementary to the Jacks 234) are provided in alternating relationbelow the cylinder needles. These short butt upper level jacks 235 arespaced across the division line of the long and short butt needles, thatis, half of them are in the long butt needle section and half of them inthe short butt needle section, and that is also true for the upper levellong butt jacks 234, for a purpose which will be subsequently described.It should be noted in this connection that the upper level short buttjacks 235 are located below cylinder needles which are inactive duringrib knitting and which receive stitches from the dial needles actuatedby those dial needle actuating fingers I38 having the butts I38 thereofat the lower level.

The frame bed 21 of the machine has .a cam supporting ring or table 248,which is spaced above the bed 21 so that access may be had to cams oroperating features which may be placed between the table 248 and the bed21, shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings. The table 248 may havesupporting posts 24I, as shown in Figure l of the drawings which arebolted to the bed 21. The table 248 supports main stitch cam block 244,shown in Figure 4 of the drawings; the widening pick attachment 438shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and other cam and cam operatinglevers to be subsequently described.

The machine is preferably provided with yarn feeds in the nature of theusual levers pivoted at 245 on the latch ring 246. This latch ring isbolted at 241 upon the swinging arm I85 of the dial supporting structureI84 (see Figure 4) and the dial cap I29 is in turn bolted at 258 to thelatch ring to hold it against rotation.

The five yarn feed fingers are used for feeding plating, splice, top,binding, and lining yarns to the needles. The finger 252 which feedsyarn for the knitting of the rib top also is used to knit the heel andtoe of the stocking. By reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings itwill be seen that these fingers 258 to 254 inclusive are swung intoaction bymeans of reciprocating push rods 256 (see Figure 2) supportedby brackets 251 on the machine. These push rods 256 in turn are actuatedby suitable levers 258, 259, 268, 26I and 262, for the fingers 258, 25I,252, 253, and 254 respectively. The levers 258 to 262 inclusive arepivoted on the shaft 11 and at their outer ends are raised by lugs onthe drum F for throwing the push rods 256 into engagement with therespective yarn fingers.

At the location of transfer of the stitches from dial needles tocylinder needles a brush 264 is located for throwing the latches of theneedles open.

As before mentioned the dial needles are partially advanced by theselectors I30, both at the transfer and stitch actuating cams of thedial. In order to support the cams for selective actuation of thesefingers I30 a segmental shaped supporting piece 210, as shown in Figures1 and 3 of the drawings is mounted by means of brackets 2' attached tothe skirt of the bracket I06 which supports the dial construction. Upperand lower levers 212 and 213 respectively are pivoted at 214 upon thesupporting segment 210 for respective action upon the upper and lowerlevel butts of the dial selector fingers I30. Thus, the lever 212 camsagainst the butts I30 and the lever 213 cams against the lower butts I30These levers 212 and 213 are respectively connected by rods 216 withlevers 211 and 218. These levers 211 and 218 are pivoted upon the shaft11 and are lugs actuated off of the drum F. They are bell crank-leversas can clearly be understood from Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. Theyarn re-- ceiving and stitch forming location on the dial for the dialneedle actuating fingers I30 is provided with another pair of actuatinglevers 280 and 28l which are pivoted at 282 on the support 210. Theselevers are provided with cam portions for operating respectively on theupper butt and lower butt dial needle selector fingers I30. These levers280 and 28I are thrown into and out of actuating relation by means oflevers 284 and 285 respectively. These levers 284 and 285 are pivoted onthe shaft TI and have connecting rods 286 which connect them with thecam levers 280 and 280.

It was before mentioned that the sinker cams 6| and 62 are opened andclosed at different operations throughout the stocking. Inasmuch as thesinker cap oscillates during reciprocation of the machine, as limited bythe lugs 290 thereon engaging against the lug 29I (see Figure 3), itwill be desirable to hold the sinker ring 54 against movement when it isdesired to advance the cam ring 65 for throwing the sinker cams 6| and62 to an inoperative position. To that end a lever 293 is pivoted at 294upon the machine, as shown in Figure 3, which is adapted to engageagainst an offset 295 on the sinker cam ring 54. The lever 293 isactuated off of the lever 295 and the latter is pivoted upon the shaft11 and actuated oil of drum F. It is connected by means of a rod 296with the lever 293 above described.

The frame of the machine is provided with a bobbin supporting table 300rearwardly of the lever arrangement which operates off the lugs of thedrums F and F". On this table are supported bobbins 30lfor feeding thevarious yarns to the feed fingers 250 to 254 inclusive. Figure 2 showsthe arrangement of yarns. Plating yarn is indicated at 302, the splice.yarn is indicated at 303, the heel, toe and rib top yarn is indicatedat 304, the binding or 'selvage yarn is indicated at 305 and the liningyarn is indicated at 306. All of these yarns except the yarn 304 are fedthrough appropriate tensioners 301 and then extend to their respectivefeed fingers 250 to 254 inclusive.

The rib top yarn 304, which is also used in knitting the heel and toehas the normal tensioner 308 operating thereon, and it is provided withmeans for additional tensioning during'knitting of the heel and toes.This means includes aconventional tensioner 3I0 having upper and lowerplates between which the yarn passes. The lower plate is movablysupported by an arm 3l5, shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, which ispivoted at 3I6and normally spring urged at 3| I into tensioningposition. A connecting rod 3I9 is attached to the arm 3l5 and movesupwardly and downwardly to throw the tensioner into and out of action.The rod 3I9 is pivoted at its lower end to a lever 320 which in turn ispivoted at 32l upon a bracket of the frame of the machine, as shown inFigures 2 and 3 of the drawings. This lever 320 is connected by a rod323 to one of the drum actuated levers 324. The drum actuating lever 324is pivoted on the shaft 11 and lug actuated off the drum F in order tothrow the yarn tensioner 3| 0 into or out of yarn tensioning position.

Means is provided to hold the splice yarn in an out of the way relationwith respect to the dial during knitting of the high splice heel anddouble sole during rotary knitting, since otherwise the splice yarnwould become entangled with the dial and the dial needles. This spliceyarn guard consists of a finger 340, shown in Figure 15 of the drawings,which has a curved end facing the splice yarn feed finger. This guard340 moves into and out of position across the cylinder needle line, asshown in Figure 15. In the position shown in Figure 15 it is out ofaction. and in its dotted position it is across the cylinder needle lineand in position to engage the splice yarn and guide and maintain itbelow the dial in an out of the way relation until the splice yarn istaken by the needles which are intended to take it during the nextrotational movement. This guard finger 340 enters across the needle lineat the knitting wave opening in the cylinder needle set directly abovethe low point in the stitch cast-off cam, as shown in Figures 9 and 10of the drawings.

The splice yarn finger 340 is mounted upon a movable supporting plate 3,slotted at 342. A screw or pin 343 on the cam ring 54 supports thesplice yarn guide member for reciprocatory movement into its operativeand inoperative positions. A pin 344 assists in guiding the movement ofthe splice yarn guide. A spring 345 normally urges an edge of the guide3 against the pin 344, and a spring 346 normally throws the yarn guideto an inoperative position as indicated in the full line view of Figure15 of the drawings. ings in conjunction with Figures 15 and 16 it willbe noted that a lever 350 is pivoted on the same pivot 234 as the lever293; said lever 350 having a bifurcated end which engages a pin 35I onthe splice yarn guide finger 340 for the purpose of advancing the spliceyarn guide 340 into operative position as indicated in the dotted linesin Figure 15 of the drawings. This lever 350 is operated off of a lever352 pivoted on the shaft IT, as shown in Figure 3.

A binder and cutter for cutting and holding the yarns is mounted uponthe dial cap I29 of the machine. This binder and cutter is generallydesignated at 360 in the drawings. As shown in Figure 23 the binder andcutter includes a shaft 36l mountable by suitable brackets 362 on thedial cap I29. A binder arm 363 is spring urged at 364 for holding yarnsafter they are severed, and a loose pivoted binder 365 ccoperatestherewith. The shaft 36I is provided with a cutter bar 366 whichoperates in a depression in the dial cap to sever the yarn. This cutteris normally spring urged into cutting position by a spring 368. Anextension arm 310 on the cutter bar 366 engages the arm 363 to lift drumF".

the latter when the cutter bar is moved to an .open position. Thisextension 318 has a link 3" which is provided with an opening therein.The latch ring 246 is provided with a support 315 with which a yarncutting operating lever 316 is pivoted as at 311; this lever 316 looselyextending into the link 311 for raising and lowering the cutter bar. Themeans for operating the lever 316 consists of a lever 388 shown inFigures 3 and 4 of the drawings, pivoted at 38l upon a suitable bracketmounted upon the latch ring; this operating lever 388 having a pin atits free end adapted to operate on the lever 316. The lever 388 is bellcranked, and at its opposite end it has a connecting rod 384 extendingfor connection to one of the drum actuated levers 385 which are pivotedon the shaft 11 and actuated by lugs off of the drum F.

The narrowing pick 488, shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, is actuatedofi of a lever 48l pivoted on the shaft 11 and lug-actuated off of the Aconnecting rod 482 connects the bell crank lever 48l with the narrowingpick 488. Cylinder needle actuating cams 8, 4H, 3, and 4 are provided.shown in Figures 9, 10, and 3, actuated off of levers 4l6 pivoted on thecam bed 248 of the machine. These cams 8. 4H, 3 and 414 are respectivelyactuated off of drum actuated levers 4l8, 4| 9, 428 and 42! which arepivoted upon the shaft 11 and are lu actuated off of the drum F; thesaid bell crank 'levers M8 to 42l being connected by rods 422 with thevarious levers 4I6. A pair of jack actuating cams 425 and 426 areprovided on the machine; the same being actuated off of levers 421 and428 pivoted on the shaft 11 of the ma.- chine and actuated off the drumF"; the actuation of these cams being accomplished in the same manner asthe cams 4l8 t0'4l4 above described. These cams 425 and 426are locatedin the space between the table 248 of the machine and the bed 21.

All of the rest of the jack and needle actuating cams, except thoseabove described, are stationary.

The machine is provided with a widening pick finger 438 which slidesalong the inclined surfaces of the cam 43! to perform its picking operation. It is plunger actuated by a spring urged rod 432, best shown inFigure 2 of the drawings and actuated off of the drum F by a lever 4 2.

It is of course understood that the usual belt shipping mechanism 516maybe provided for throwing the machine out ofoperation at thecompletion of the knitting of a complete stocking, and to that end a lug435 may be provided on the drum 86 to accomplish such action.

A work tube 448, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings, may extendinto the cylinder for receiving the string of stocking. It is provided,with a lower enlarged receptacle portion 441 for receiving-the string ofstockings. A take-up which may be; of conventional nature is supported,in this portion f44l of the work tube and is rendered effective andineffectiveby shifting and lowering'the work tube; The lifting of thework. tube will open the clutch and throw the take-up out ofoperationThe work tube rotates with the cylinder. It is raised and lowered by themeans shown in Figure2 of the drawings. It is provided with an annularflange 443 which. rests against a lever-444 the latter operating off thedrum F; in order to throw the take-up into and out of operation.

The take-up may be of thenature set forth in my U. S. Patent #l,991,563.As specifically applied to this machine the take-up may include theusual pair of rollers 446, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of thedrawings, between which the work passes. These rollers are driven bymeans of gearing on a shaft 441 which extends downwardly through theside of the receptacle 4M and at its lower end is provided with a clutch448 adapted to engage or disengage with a gear 449. The latter is drivenby means of a stationary gear 458 which is mounted upon a bracket 45l ofthe frame of the machine. Of course, as the receptacle 4 rotates, sincethe gear 458 'is stationary, the gear 449 will revolve. When the clutch448 is thrown into action the shaft 441 will rotate for operatingtherollers 446. A spring 453 normally urges the work drum upwardly butits weight is sufiicient to maintain the clutch 448 in clutchingengagement with the gear 449. This spring somewhat relieves the weightwhichis required to be lifted by the lever 444.

Referring to the pattern drum arrangement as diagrammaticallyillustrated in Figure 17, the dot and dash lines represent the line oftravel of the drum over various levers and parts of the machine. Thenumeral 468 which takes in two of these lines is the line of shift ofthe clutch lever 46l which is pivoted on the frame of the machine asshown at 462 in Figure 6 of the drawings. This lever is not pivotedonthe shaft 11, but has a vertical axis, and at its end it has a pin 463which may move, incident to the sloping edges of the cam lugs 465 on thedrum F", for the purpose of shifting the clutch hub I69. The parts areshown in Figures 3, 6 and 17 of the drawings.

On the drum F" the dot and dash lines 461 operate the lever M8 in orderto control the cam M8; the lugs along the line 468 operates the lever H9to control the needle cam 4| I; the lugs along the line 469 actuate thelever 428 to control the cam M3; the lugs along the line 418 actuate thelever 42| in order to control the cam M4; the lugs along the line 41Iactuate the lever 421 in order to control the cam 425; the lugs alongthe line 412 actuate the lever 428 in order to control the jack cam 426;the lugs along the line 413 actuate the lever 19 for the purpose ofmoving the cam shifting ring 65 in order to throw the sinker cams 6| and62 into or out of action; the lugs along the line 414 actuate the lever48I for the purpose of operating the narrowing pick 488 into out of theway positions. This line of lugs only actuates that narrowing pick whichimmediately faces the direction of rotation of the cylinder in order toget it out of the way of the needle butts. inoperative position is shownin Figure 10 of the drawings. All of the above lugs are on the drum F".

With respect to the drum F the dot and dash lines 416, 411, 418, 419,and 488 respectively actuate the levers 258, 259, 268, 261. and 262 forcontrolling the feed of yarns off of the yarn The fingers 250, 25I, 252,253 and 254 respectively.

the web take-up support and work tube 448,

and thus throw the clutch of the take-up out of action; the lugs 483 and488 actuate the two levers 284, and285 for controlling the cam arms 288and28l which actuate the dial needle pro-

